Automated launch mating system

Abstract

In one embodiment, an automated system for mating a launch device to a launch platform may include a launch platform having a first electrical connector, and a interface member attached to the launch device. The interface member may include a second electrical connector configured to automatically couple to the first electrical connector of the launch platform.

1. An automated system for mating a launch device to a launch platform comprising:
 a launch platform comprising a platform electrical connector and a platform moveable door having a platform mating member; and 
 an interface member attached to the launch device the interface member comprising an interface electrical connector and an interface moveable door, the interface electrical connector configured to couple to the platform electrical connector, the interface moveable door having an interface mating member, the interface moveable door configured to move to cover the interface electrical connector and to move to uncover the interface electrical connector, the platform mating member configured to mate with and move the interface mating member, and the launch device configured to be launched from the launch platform. 
 
   
   
     2. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the launch platform is configured to support the launch device during launching of the launch device. 
   
   
     3. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the launch device is adapted to be moved and connected to the launch platform in a ready-to-launch state. 
   
   
     4. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the launch platform comprises a base and a plurality of legs. 
   
   
     5. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the platform electrical connector is configured to move to be coupled to the interface electrical connector, and is also configured to move to be uncoupled from the interface electrical connector. 
   
   
     6. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the launch platform comprises a plurality of platform electrical connectors. 
   
   
     7. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the platform moveable door is configured to move to cover the platform electrical connector and to move to uncover the platform electrical connector. 
   
   
     8. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the interface moveable door is configured to extend to cover the interface electrical connector, and to retract to uncover the interface electrical connector. 
   
   
     9. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the platform mating member and the interface mating member collectively comprise at least one female mating member and at least one male mating member. 
   
   
     10. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the platform mating member and the interface mating member comprises a locking member which is configured to move to lock the other of the platform mating member and the interface mating member in place, and to move to unlock the other of the platform mating member and the interface mating member. 
   
   
     11. The automated system of  claim 10  wherein the locking member comprises a moveable pin. 
   
   
     12. The automated system of  claim 11  wherein the interface member is substantially cylindrical. 
   
   
     13. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the launch device comprises at least one of a missile, an aircraft, and a spacecraft. 
   
   
     14. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the interface member is attached to an aft end of the launch device. 
   
   
     15. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the platform electrical connector and the interface electrical connector comprise auto umbilical electrical connectors. 
   
   
     16. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the interface member comprises a plurality of interface electrical connectors. 
   
   
     17. The automated system of  claim 1  wherein the launch platform further comprises a crane for moving the launch device against the launch platform. 
   
   
     18. A method for automatically mating a launch device to a launch platform comprising:
 providing a launch platform comprising a platform electrical connector and a platform moveable door having a platform mating member; 
 providing a launch device comprising an interface member, wherein the interface member comprises an interface electrical connector and an interface moveable door having an interface mating member; 
 mating the platform mating member with the interface mating member; 
 moving at least one of the interface mating member and the platform mating member using the other of the interface mating member and the platform mating member in order to move at least one of the interface moveable door and the platform moveable door to uncover at least one of the interface electrical connector and the platform electrical connector; and 
 automatically coupling the interface electrical connector to the platform electrical connector. 
 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 18  wherein the automatically coupling step further comprises moving at least one of the platform electrical connector and the interface electrical connector against the other of the platform electrical connector and the interface electrical connector putting the launch device into a ready-to-launch state. 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 18  further comprising locking the platform mating member to the interface mating member. 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 18  further comprising launching the launch device from the launch platform using an electrical signal sent between the platform electrical connector and the interface electrical connector.